Reloading... never tried it.

[Volphin]

What is the usage curve for reloading .45? I mean, when does it make better sense (in rounds used) to reload rather than purchase the ammo outright?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

[LngRngShtr]

Once your set up you can generally load a box of 50 for $5-$6.00

compared to Winchester White box ($23.00 Midway) that is almost 4 to 1 reload vs. factory

Now setup costs will vary but you can back figure that cost then do the math and get the number of reloads to recoup the initial investment ( by saving $15.00 per 50 how many rounds will it take to get to $ X.00 for my press,scale,supplies)

take that round count , and think on how long it takes you to shoot that much, now if you are a range rat, or competitive shooter that won't take long, but if you only go 3 times a year and shoot say 2 boxes a trip then reloading probably isn't for you. Unless you see yourself shooting more now that a box of 50 is only a $5 bill

Once your press is paid for ( check around for some used gear ) there is no comparison reloads are the way to go as long as you are detail oriented and consistent , because you can blow a gun up if you goof bad enough , and you can tailor the loading to what you are doing.

Downloaded wadcutters for paper punching, introducing a new shooter to the sport or

Jacketed Hollowpoints for hunting, pin shooting,

MATCH GRADE if you want to compete..

and the press is just a start, with a change of the dies you can load almost any cartridge you see out there,.. except .50BMG which takes a larger press

I reload .38 SPL for $3.80 a box.

My .30-06 costs me about 30 cents a piece or $6.00 a box of 20

My 10 mm runs like a 10 mm should not the "40S&W Long" loading thew factory puts out these days

My advice is to seek out a reloader at a local club or Gun Shop and look through some of the books I am sure there is someone here on the board from K-ville or nearby that can guide you through the process should you decide to persue another facet of the shooting world

[I_Like_Pie]

You will NEVER save money. You can theorize all you want, but practically this is never true.

You will, however, shoot a lot more

[Trekbike]

I reload .38 SPL for $3.80 a box.

Please clue me in on how you're getting that low. You've got to casting your own bullets to even get close to that. Even casting you must be getting a great deal on lead.

Is that based on current pricing for supplies?

Edited March 10, 2010 by Trekbike

[herr.baer]

This link will help you figure out whether it is cost effective for you.

Handloading Cost Calculator

[Guest spoolie]

Mine is about $166 per 1000. Not counting the price of press and various other tools.

.45

[gunsablazin]

You will NEVER save money. You can theorize all you want, but practically this is never true.

You will, however, shoot a lot more

This is the truth. My .45ACP loads are about $7.50 a box, but I shoot alot of them!

[gregintenn]

If you value your time at all, you will not save an appreciable amount of money by reloading. You will, however learn a lot about firearms and ammo, be able to have ammo you can't buy anywhere, and have a pretty neat hobby. The main reason I reload is to have ammo for certain calibers that I just can't buy. Since I already have the equipment handy, I load for the common calibers as well.

[I_Like_Pie]

Please clue me in on how you're getting that low. You've got to casting your own bullets to even get close to take. Even casting you must be getting a great deal on lead.

Is that based on current pricing for supplies?

Actually...yes. The lead I get is picked up at the range for free. Hundreds of pounds are there for the taking.

Primers are $3 per 100 these days. Using Bullseye at 3.0 grains per load...you get a LOT of loads with 1# of powder - thousands.

Have more .38 brass than I can load. The stuff I do load lasts 40+ reloads.

Time is the sinker

[2.ooohhh]

another free/super cheap source of lead is used wheel weights(from cars), I brought home several hundered pounds over the years when I was a mechanic and put them in the back shed in sealed 5 gallon buckets when I run low I can usually find a tire shop that's happy to get rid of them.

[ftncityfatboy]

think of it this way: new hobby, new hobby, new hobby.........and its relaxing, fun, and you gain knowledge. plus it gets you out of the house if your bench is in a separate building. it gives you something to do in your old age.......

[LngRngShtr]

Please clue me in on how you're getting that low. You've got to casting your own bullets to even get close to that. Even casting you must be getting a great deal on lead.

Is that based on current pricing for supplies?

Sorry,..

I am loading off of stockpiles,.. updating prices still keeps it below $5.50 a box of 50

148gr HBWC 68.00 per 1000 (Delta Precision)

2.7 grs Bullseye $17.00 a Lb.

Win Small Pistol Primer 34.00 per 1000

TOTAL $ 5.45 box of 50

I own more .38 casings than I will ever need to load and at that pressure level they last for-ever

to compare my .45 load $6.75 a box / 50

200 gr. LSWC 88.00 per 1000 (Delta Precision)

5.7 grs. WW 231 ( often referred as the "Mickey Fowler" loading ) 17.00 Lb.

Win Lg Pistol Primers 34.00 per 1000

Brass see above, it is good to have friends who don't reload

I have to reload,.. it isn't a choice for me..

.38 Special S&W M-52 ( try finding mid-range flush seat wadcutter ammo on the shelf) and when fixed a S&W M19 PPC revolver

.401 Herters ( discontinued 1969 proprietary cartridge)

.38 Super IPSC race gun ( yeah above SAAMI specs )

10mm ,. cause I hate 40S&W long and,..have you priced a box of 10mm lately ?

.30-06

2 Custom build rifles , why hamstring with surplus crap ?

M-1 ( has to have proper pressure curve or your buying an Op rod )

1903-A4 for the few times this sees a rifle range, I want to make sure ammo is in spec.

I enjoy the "quiet time" in my shop loading and tinkering.. well it is about to get noisy I am planning the new bench

John

[Trekbike]

Sorry,..

I am loading off of stockpiles,.. updating prices still keeps it below $5.50 a box of 50

148gr HBWC 68.00 per 1000 (Delta Precision)

2.7 grs Bullseye $17.00 a Lb.

Win Small Pistol Primer 34.00 per 1000

TOTAL $ 5.45 box of 50

I own more .38 casings than I will ever need to load and at that pressure level they last for-ever

Thanks, that makes me feel better because that's right inline with my costs. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing any killer deal on bullets. I haven't broke down to casting yet.

[Guest canebreaker]

I too have been loading 38 spl for years. I cast 357 120 gr. rn. and 357 158 gr. swc. All the lead has been free for now, with a good stock pile. I buy the large jugs of powder. I buy 3 to 5 sleeves of primers, have shipped out of state to save tax. 2.2 to 2.5 grs. bullseye. 2.3 to 2.6 grs. accurate#2. 2.4 to 2.7 grs. hp-38, makes for lots of loads. Labor of love for the hobby, I guessing it's costing me about 5.00 per 100.

[E4 No More]

I don't look at reloading as a cost-cutting measure. It's relatively simple: if you shoot a lot then you'll save money over time. If you don't shoot a lot then you'll spend more.

I reload for a hobby. It gives me time in man-land by myself. It also allows me to maximize accuracy for each of my weapons, have more choice in what I shoot and when, and gives me the flexibility to shoot more at any given time.

[9teeneleven]

I shot .45 for a while before I got into reloading so I had a good stash of brass.

I bought a Lee 1000 for $150 set up for .45 from midway. I bought 8lbs of W231 powder for $110 at a show. That is good for around 5k rounds. Primers are $29 per k. I get my Bullets from Roze Dist. $110 for 1k FMJ shipped (this has gone up since the ammo surge it used to be around $80 per 1k). So for .45 these days I am spending about $160 per 1k for good quality FMJ bullets. "I_Like_Pie" is right. You aren't going to save money because you end up shooting a lot more. Since I have my press dialed in I load 1k at a time, and it takes me about 2 months to work my way through it.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Same here. I have two presses: an old Lyman T-Mag and a Hornady Lock n load progressive. The Hornady gets use with .45, 9mm, 5.56mm, 6.8mm, .30-30 and 8mm Mauser. Savings is relative. With .45 and 9mm I save money, but it gets me away from other things and I actually enjoy it. Putting ammo together takes a little time and is more enjoyable than looking for it in most stores.

Handgun ammo reloading is too easy not to do. Some rifle ammo can be a pain. Takes a little more effort. Try it, you'll like it.

[Hgunner]

My press has been paid for for a long time. Bottom line is reloading is not going to be cost effective unless you are addicted to shooting. If you shoot 1000 rds of .45 a year at a rough cost of $350 then your probably better off buying WWB at

Wally world. If you like to shoot 4,5,6,7 k rounds or more a year, reloading is a must, if you want to go out west and shoot 1000 rounds at Prarie Dogs reloading is a must. If you shoot 20 rds of 30-06 a year during hunting season then reloading would be a

waste of time. Its a enjoyable hobby, your always learning something new and you can start out new relatively easy and upgrade as you go along, oh and its a lot fun.

[Guest davidz71]

I like shooting WW USA 45 ACP white box 185 gr. flat nose stuff over the 230 gr. RN. I've always found it harder to find than the 230 gr. variety. Since I have aquired plenty of WW brass over the last 20 years, it pays me to reload FMJ as well as 200 gr. H&G style lead bullets rather than buy the white box at Wally World or gun shows. I'd rather do this than buy something I just don't like to shoot.

[owejia]

You also have to remember the "shortages" of the past year or so.Stockpile brass, bullets. primers and powder while price is down and you are all set for a long time. You can weather the next "shortages" and still afford to shoot.Lee makes a very economical hand loader for most common rifle and handgun calibers for people that only need to reload a few hunting rounds for the deer rifle etc.

[leroy]

What is the usage curve for reloading .45? I mean, when does it make better sense (in rounds used) to reload rather than purchase the ammo outright?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

Vol:_________

As others have already posted; reloading is as much a hobby as it is a way to save money. That being said; I am convinced you do save money when you handload "unusual" calibers. I have a 375 H & H and a 458 Winchester (...big animals beware...). Reloading cuts the cost of ammo for these beasties by probably 75%.

Moving on to pistol calibers; I doubt you can save much on 45 ACP IF YOU ARE NOT PICKY ABOUT BULLETS. If you like to pick your bullets; you can save probably 50% reloading for the ACP. We load for every caliber of big bore pistol at my house -- from 357 mag right up to 45 Colt. We shoot lots of old time big bore loads. You simply cannot buy that sort of stuff and shoot a couple of hundred rounds every time you go to the range. First of all; you can’t find 'em. Second, if you could; you couldn’t afford to buy them. One dollar a round for pistol ammo is ridiculous (... in my opinion...). One dollar a round for 223 match (Black hills Ammo) is insane (... but many will willingly pay that price; I won’t!!!...)

Lest some of you "real capitalists" want to beat me up; dont bother. As the great character "Pappy" O"Daniel said in the equally great movie "OH Brother": "...I'm with you folks! ..." I like the capitalist system too and am not advocating price controls. I just vote with my dollars and wont pay what some ask for their products. I'm just frugal, not socialist!!

We buy brass on sale, look for deals on bulk bullets (... the ones we like...), do our lead bullet business for the big bore stuff with this guy: http://proshootpro.com/. Buy some soft bullets from this guy: http://www.cowboybullets.com/. (...works like a charm for lighter loads in revolvers; but a little pricey for what they are...). We watch at midway for "bullet specials" for jacketed bullets. Lastly, for the 357 sig and 45 ACP; we load Rainier Plated Bullets (...they are a good value and very accurate...).

The bottom line of reloading is that you can get what you want. The downside is that it takes time, and you have a pile of stuff cluttering up your garage or gun room.

Oh: Reloading curve for 45ACP. If you can read, are careful, and pay attention; about 45 minutes if you buy the right tools to begin with. Don’t try to save money on presses, dies, powder measures, scales, or reloading handbooks. Buy good ones. The good ones are Dillon, Hornady, Lyman, Redding, RCBS, and Redding -- in no particular order -- by the best stuff you can afford at the best price you can find.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Leroy

Edited March 13, 2010 by leroy
spelling!!

[towerclimber37]

I reload .308, and 30-06.

I was comparing the cost of reloading my .308 rounds the other day and, after doing the math, It costs me 58 cents per round to reload my .308 rounds.

the exact same round, if bought would cost me 1.23 cents.

Not only that, but my .308 rounds are 3 times more accurate than factory ammunition.

I could probably go cheaper than .58 cents also..but this is stuff I have in stock.

[Volphin]

Just a note of thanks for all the replies! I don't get to come by as often as I'd like, but when I do, there are always friendly, informative posts from fellow shooters.

Thanks all, and I'll let you know how the reloads turn out.

V

[Guest Catdaddy]

At first, i didn't save any money, even after recouping the cost of equipment- because i was getting out to the range FAR more often, shooting with my youngest son and having fun I couldn't afford before!

I now have stockpiles of ammo i couldn't afford to buy, know a LOT more about guns and ammo...

And then I started reloading my RIFLE ammo- and I'd like to say I'm saving money.. but I still stockpile FAR more than I shoot, Still, when I can load 303 for less than half of new, ditto for 35 Rem, and even better on 444....

I'd do it all over again. It's fun, satisfying, and ammo in the years to come may just be worth it's weight in gold- or at least in food.